Project Hunk of Junk - The continued Essex strip down (Big End - big problem)

[Dave Price]

In an earlier blog I had mentioned that I planned a further strip down of my V6 engine. This evening I remove the nearside bank cylinder head. The observations are as follows -

Bores - look OK, much like the offside bank

Head - water ways look significantly bunged up

Pistons - some lateral rotational play in the pistons, as the was on the other bank. But with these there is a pronouced knock as you twist the piston crown.

Conclusion - given the knocking sound when the engine is turned over by hand, the knock sound when you twist the pistons and the signifiicant silty dirty oil build ups in the engine. I suspect this engine has not been subject to regular oil changes. I think I may get away with the bores, but I think my new crank shaft will definqtely be required along with many many bearings. Now I know why when I asked the seller of the engine if it was a runner, he quickly said "yes" and then immediately changed the subject. Well I never expected it to be great as I only paid £50 for the engine and box.

Another thought may be to strip and scrap this engine and use V6 engine number 2, that is alledged to have been rebuilt 20 years ago and hardly used - wait and see.

The NOS cylinder arrived today. It looks good, shame it isn't a pair of heads.